Josh Sawyer Q&A Thread

[Roguey]

I haven’t been doing any Pillars TTRPG work lately. It’s just been difficult to find motivation, sorry.

Looks like we have a new The Black Hound.

 

[santino27]

Oh the ennui. Poor Josh. I guess... I guess he'll just show up to work, collect his oversized salary, and cling to existence for another day. Pity him, world!

 

[Gangrelrumbler]

I can't blame him for not wanting to work on something so depressingly dull. POE setting is like Faerun with everything even remotely interesting cut-off and replaced with souless history wank.

 

[Infinitron]

https://jesawyer.tumblr.com/post/62...as-there-ever-been-an-official-writing-system

hi! has there ever been an official writing system made for any of the languages of eora, or anything fanmade to your knowledge? making languages and writing systems is one of my favorite hobbies and im just recently getting into poe and loving how much effort was put into each of the languages, theyre the perfect blend of obvious real world influences while being completely original, and huana/rauataian struck me especially because i love the sound of pacific islander languages. dankeschööööön!

Thank you. I’m glad you like them. Yes. I created orthographies for Eld Aedyran/Aedyran, Vailian, Engwithan, Huana, and Rauatan. Kate Dollarhyde created one for Seki.

 

[Latro]

if only they spent more time on good prose than coming up with fictional ciphers

 

[Alex]

if only they spent more time on good gameplay than coming up with fictional ciphers

Fixed.

 

[Delterius]

hopefully pillars of eternity 3 is going to be an experimental game, where you are from a strange part of Eora where you don't know any language and must navigate josh sawyer's ciphers to survive

⚐❄☜☠✌☝⚐!!

 

[Tenebris]

If we do ever get a Pillars of Eternity 3 I'm expecting more of the same for the character writing. More shit.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[Joseph Stalin]

I must be some rare creature on the Codex, having enjoyed both Pillars of Eternity titles immensely. Maybe it's because of the solid world-building going on. My only real criticism boils down to "the sequel should have been a stand-alone title, with its own protagonist and no connections to the first game."

That being said, I hope the next title, if it happens, takes place in the Living Lands. I once asked Josh Sawyer to describe that land somewhat, and he replied with something along the lines of "Medieval Iceland mixed in with Alice in Wonderland."

 

[Silly Germans]

I must be some rare creature on the Codex, having enjoyed both Pillars of Eternity titles immensely. Maybe it's because of the solid world-building going on. My only real criticism boils down to "the sequel should have been a stand-alone title, with its own protagonist and no connections to the first game."

That being said, I hope the next title, if it happens, takes place in the Living Lands. I once asked Josh Sawyer to describe that land somewhat, and he replied with something along the lines of "Medieval Iceland mixed in with Alice in Wonderland."

The problem is not that PoE I/II are bad rpgs. They are mediocre with some tendency to good. But they are not great games and don't live up to the old Infinity Engine games which is why they are perceived as a disappointment. I wouldn't be surprised if the opinion on them shifts to the positive in the future once people stop comparing them with the old titles and take the games for what they are. The shortcomings of the games won't vanish of course, but i think they will weighted different once some time has passed.

I'd also like a third game that doesn't focus on the Watcher, Souls and Gods, trying too hard to be serious and metaphysical. A simple down-to-earth adventure would be much better.

 

[Joseph Stalin]

I must be some rare creature on the Codex, having enjoyed both Pillars of Eternity titles immensely. Maybe it's because of the solid world-building going on. My only real criticism boils down to "the sequel should have been a stand-alone title, with its own protagonist and no connections to the first game."

That being said, I hope the next title, if it happens, takes place in the Living Lands. I once asked Josh Sawyer to describe that land somewhat, and he replied with something along the lines of "Medieval Iceland mixed in with Alice in Wonderland."

The problem is not that PoE I/II are bad rpgs. They are mediocre with some tendency to good. But they are not great games and don't live up to the old Infinity Engine games which is why they are perceived as a disappointment. I wouldn't be surprised if the opinion on them shifts to the positive in the future once people stop comparing them with the old titles and take the games for what they are. The shortcomings of the games won't vanish of course, but i think they will weighted different once some time has passed.

I'd also like a third game that doesn't focus on the Watcher, Souls and Gods, trying too hard to be serious and metaphysical. A simple down-to-earth adventure would be much better.

I think the story being a completely different beast is a must, given how world-changing the events of the second game were. I'd also wish they'd make a "Definitive Edition" of the first game - port the graphics/mechanics/turn-based mode from the second game; restore cut content, especially the blatantly cut one, and maybe sprinkle in a bit more voice-over. Alas, that's just wishful thinking.

 

[Thac0]

I must be some rare creature on the Codex, having enjoyed both Pillars of Eternity titles immensely. Maybe it's because of the solid world-building going on. My only real criticism boils down to "the sequel should have been a stand-alone title, with its own protagonist and no connections to the first game."

That being said, I hope the next title, if it happens, takes place in the Living Lands. I once asked Josh Sawyer to describe that land somewhat, and he replied with something along the lines of "Medieval Iceland mixed in with Alice in Wonderland."

Atleticano you have a new friend. Sadly for both of you POE 2 sold badly and Sawjer does not know why, so if they are to return to the series only with sweeping changes to the formula and very unlikely.

 

[DalekFlay]

Atleticano you have a new friend. Sadly for both of you POE 2 sold badly and Sawjer does not know why, so if they are to return to the series only with sweeping changes to the formula and very unlikely.

Microsoft is going to want a AAA exclusive RPG from them eventually. There was a time I thought pulling a Fallout 3 with Pillars would be an obvious choice, but with Outer Worlds capturing some gaming zeitgeist they might just do a AAA sequel to that. Or something new, who knows.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Microsoft bought them to produce gamepass shovelware.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[2house2fly]

kind of a catty answer, he really is depressed

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Microsoft bought them to produce gamepass shovelware.

It's like I am capable of predicting the future

 

[Ol' Willy]

We added the .308-chambered Automatic Rifle (BAR) in Dead Money, and I think the limited mag size, high damage, and relatively low RoF set it apart from the LMG.

All BARs are capable of 500-650 RPM (comparable to AK), so this bullshit with a slow firing BAR gets kinda tiresome. Just because M1918A2 had slower full-auto mod doesn't mean that all BARs should be always slow.

 

[Nano]

Wonder who Josh is talking about here.

 

[Quillon]

probably not aroooga, so must be pre-poe, ancient history

 

[Ol' Willy]

This Mike guy is right, though.

 

[Roguey]

Most Obsidian art directors have had no artistic vision. Back in 2010 he said

The best concept artists I have worked with have a *concept* behind their concept. It's goofy that I have to call this out, but a lot of artist don't.

 

[Infinitron]

So Josh's work on Pillars of Eternity lore isn't abandoned. And I'm sure none of that lore will make it into Avowed, that game he's totally not working on.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Thanks for keeping us updated with your blog, infini